Incumbents mostly dominated the races in southern Manitoba's rural ridings — although a cabinet minister was unseated in Brandon West, one of two ridings in Manitoba's second-largest city.
Brandon West has swung between the New Democrats and the Tories several times over the last four decades, with the election outcomes often decided by only a few hundred votes.
That trend continued Tuesday, with NDP cabinet minister Scott Smith neck and neck with well-known former mayor and MP Rick Borotsik, who stepped out of retirement to try to win the riding back for the Tories.
It came down to the wire, but went to Borotsik, who took the riding by 58 votes.
La Verendrye was also expected to be a close race, as NDP Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux faced a serious challenge from Progressive Conservative candidate Bob Stefaniuk, the former mayor of the Rural Municipality of Ritchot.
Lemieux snatched the seat from the Tories by fewer than 200 votes in 1999, and improved his margin to more than 1,000 votes in the 2003 election. But the riding is traditionally Tory — electing Conservative representatives in every election in the two decades before 1999 — and Stefaniuk was a high-profile rival, widely respected for his role in rebuilding the area after the 1997 "flood of the century."
In the end, the cabinet member held on to his seat, with 50 per cent of the popular vote, compared to 39 per cent for Stefaniuk.
Tories hold Carman, Minnedosa
The Tories held on to Carman, the scene internal strife earlier this year after the riding's longtime MLA, Denis Rocan, was defeated for the PC nomination in the riding. Rocan was ejected from the Tory caucus the week the writ was dropped after he voted in favour of the NDP budget.
This time around, the PC banner was carried by Blaine Pedersen, who has farmed in the Elm Creek area for 30 years. Pedersen had a comfortable lead of more than 2,000 votes over school aide Sharon Sadowny, who ran for the NDP.
In Minnedosa in 2003, Tory Leanne Rowat eked out a win with a margin of just 12 votes over New Democrat Harvey Paterson, a farmer and former law-enforcement officer.
The two candidates lined up for a rematch this time around in the riding, which surrounds the city of Brandon.
Rowat widened her lead in this election, with around 1,000 votes separating her from Paterson.
Manitoba Votes 2007 Headlines »
- NDP wins historic 3rd majority in Manitoba
- Manitoba NDP Leader Gary Doer has led his party to a historic third majority government in the province's 39th general election, taking 36 of 57 seats.
- PCs win 19 seats, lose ground from 2003
- The Progressive Conservatives won 19 out of 57 ridings Tuesday — a drop of one seat from 2003.
- Liberals hold 2 seats
- Voters denied the Liberals official party status on Tuesday, although the party held its two existing seats.
- Greens make slight gains
- The Green party's dreams of a breakthrough quickly wilted on Tuesday night.
- 16 cabinet ministers re-elected, one loses nailbiter
- Sixteen members of Premier Gary Doer's former NDP cabinet in Manitoba were re-elected Tuesday, but Trade Minister Scott Smith lost the riding of Brandon West in a squeaker.